ant

¹ant

noun \ˈant\

Definition of ANT

: any of a family (Formicidae) of colonial hymenopterous insects with a complex social organization and various castes performing special duties

— ants in one's pants

: impatience for action or activity : restlessness

Origin of ANT

Middle English ante, emete, from Old English æmette; akin to Old High German āmeiza ant

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

Rhymes with ANT

aunt, brant, cant, chant, grant, Kant, pant, plant, rant, scant, slant

²ant

abbreviation

Definition of ANT

1

antenna

2

antonym

Ant

abbreviation

Definition of ANT

Antarctica

ant

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Carpenter ant (Camponotus).—(Top two) Grace Thompson—The National Aubudon Society Collection/Photo Researchers, (bottom two) E.S. Ross

Any member of approximately 10,000 species of the social insect family Formicidae. Ants are found worldwide but are especially common in hot climates. They range from 0.1 to 1 in. (2–25 mm) long and are usually yellow, brown, red, or black. Ants eat both plant and animal substances; some even “farm” fungi for food, cultivating them in their nests, or “milk” aphids. Ant colonies consist of three castes (queens, males, and workers, including soldiers) interacting in a highly complex society paralleling that of the honeybees. Well-known ant species are the carpenter ants of North America, the voracious army ants of tropical America, and the stinging fire ant.